Text: Daniel

Topic: How to stay faithful to God in different stages of life

Introduction:

• • Daniel spent his entire adult life in a twisted culture as morally corrupt as our own.
  • Illustration: The Third Reich came crashing down because a heroic generation faced a clear enemy and stood against it. Today's generations must do the same, though the tactics of the adversary are much more subtle.

The young Daniel remained countercultural in his faith, appetites, and purposes.

• • Young people, find your identity in the faith.
  • Young people, shape your appetites by Christian conviction.
  • Young people, train for a purpose—God's purpose.

Three contemporaries of Daniel remained unbowed in the face of crisis and compromise.

• • M Christians, refuse to bow down—choose God's call over the idols of safety and security.
  • M Christians, stand up for Jesus—love and serve people.
  • M Christians, make a difference in the marketplace—be the best employees you can be.

Illustration: The opposite of a humble "standing up for Jesus" is a prideful "spitting in the face" of authority, especially in the workplace.

The senior Daniel remained an encourager and influencer to the coming generations.

• • Seniors, stand and proclaim God's faithfulness down through the years.
  • Seniors, help the next generations see God's faithfulness too.
  • Seniors, though this culture crowds you out, you're not through yet!